
Hawaii Five-0 – Überblick zur beliebten Actionserie
Introduction
When CBS launched the reimagined Hawaii Five-0 in September 2010, the network revived one of television’s most recognizable police franchises. The series transported viewers to Honolulu, where an elite state police unit tackled crimes ranging from terrorism to organized syndicates across the Hawaiian Islands. Unlike typical procedurals confined to soundstages, this production leveraged Oahu’s actual landscapes as both backdrop and narrative engine.
Grid
Network
CBS
Run
September 20, 2010 – April 3, 2020
Seasons
10
Episodes
240
Creators
Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman
Lead Cast
Alex O’Loughlin, Scott Caan, Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park
Insights
The creative team behind the revival emphasized authenticity in depicting Hawaiian culture, consulting local experts to avoid the tourist-brochure aesthetic that plagued earlier Hollywood productions set in the state. This commitment extended to the cast; Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, both actors of Korean descent, played roles that specifically incorporated their heritage rather than treating their ethnicity as incidental.
The production also distinguished itself through practical action sequences. While digital effects handled dangerous stunts, the series maintained a visceral quality by filming chase sequences through actual Honolulu traffic and surf sequences on the North Shore.
Table
| Season | Episodes | Original Air Dates | Primary Arc |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 | 2010–2011 | Wo Fat Introduction |
| 2 | 23 | 2011–2012 | Shelf Life |
| 3 | 24 | 2012–2013 | Mom McGarrett |
| 4 | 22 | 2013–2014 | SWAT Corruption |
| 5 | 25 | 2014–2015 | Gabriel Waincroft |
| 6 | 25 | 2015–2016 | Doris McGarrett |
| 7 | 25 | 2016–2017 | Five-0 Under Siege |
| 8 | 25 | 2017–2018 | Adam’s Redemption |
| 9 | 25 | 2018–2019 | Los Angeles Connections |
| 10 | 22 | 2019–2020 | Series Conclusion |
Details
Filming occurred primarily at the Hawaii Film Studio in Honolulu, with location shoots spanning from Waianae to Makapuu Point. The iconic headquarters exterior shown in establishing shots is actually the Aliiolani Hale, home to the Hawaii State Supreme Court. Steve McGarrett’s seaside house, featured prominently throughout the series, sits on the eastern shore of Oahu and became a popular, though unofficial, tourist destination.
The decision to conclude the series after ten seasons stemmed from contract negotiations and Alex O’Loughlin’s physical recovery needs following years of performing stunts. The finale provided closure while acknowledging the ongoing nature of police work, avoiding the artificial neatness that often constrains procedural endings.
Timeline
Development began in 2008 when CBS announced intentions to reboot the franchise. The pilot episode filmed in February 2010, establishing the visual template that would sustain for a decade. Season two introduced crossover episodes with NCIS: Los Angeles, expanding the narrative universe. By season five, the show had integrated fully into CBS’s crime drama ecosystem, regularly winning its Monday time slot among total viewers.
Key milestones include the 150th episode celebration in 2017 and the announcement of the final season in 2019. The series finale aired April 3, 2020, drawing significant viewership despite the ongoing pandemic concerns.
Clarity
The 2010 series uses a numeral “0” rather than the letter “O” found in the 1968 original. This distinction helped viewers differentiate between the two iterations while maintaining brand recognition. The title refers to Hawaii’s status as the 50th state admitted to the Union, though within the show’s fiction, “Five-0” serves as the unit’s designation, derived from McGarrett’s high school football jersey number.
Unlike the original series, which ran for twelve seasons with twelve fewer episodes per year on average, the reboot maintained consistent 22-25 episode counts throughout its run, reflecting modern broadcast standards for one-hour dramas.
Analysis
The series generated significant economic impact, injecting millions into the local Hawaiian economy through production expenditures and crew employment. State tax incentives specifically designed to attract film productions proved crucial to the show’s financial viability, as the cost of housing cast and crew on the islands exceeded mainland production budgets by significant margins.
However, critics noted persistent issues with representation; despite the Asian-majority demographics of Hawaii, the lead roles remained predominantly white. The 2017 departure of series regulars Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park highlighted pay disparity disputes, generating industry-wide conversations about equity in ensemble casts and prompting CBS to renegotiate several contracts across their primetime lineup.
Quotes
Book ’em, Danno.
Steve McGarrett
This inherited catchphrase from Jack Lord’s original portrayal gained new resonance through Alex O’Loughlin’s delivery. The closing ritual between McGarrett and Danny Williams became the show’s signature beat, occurring at the conclusion of nearly every episode and serving as emotional punctuation for the case-of-the-week structure.
Summary
Hawaii Five-0 sustained a decade-long run by balancing procedural reliability with cinematic visuals. The series honored its predecessor while establishing distinct identity through contemporary pacing and serialized storytelling. Its legacy includes demonstrating the viability of location-heavy production in Hawaii and setting viewership benchmarks for Friday and Monday programming that subsequent network offerings have struggled to match.
FAQ
Why does the 2010 series spell Five-0 with a zero?
The numeral differentiates the reboot from the 1968 original while referencing Hawaii’s status as the 50th state.
Was the show filmed entirely in Hawaii?
Yes, primary photography occurred primarily on Oahu, with occasional second-unit shoots on neighboring islands.
How many episodes comprise the complete series?
The series concluded with 240 episodes across ten seasons.
What happened in the series finale?
The final episode resolved ongoing storylines while allowing the characters to continue their work, avoiding definitive endings that would prevent future revival possibilities.
Is there a connection to the original 1968 series?
Several actors from the original made guest appearances, and the narrative acknowledged the previous Five-0 unit as a predecessor organization within the same fictional universe.